Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle United: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle United in the Premier League on Friday, 26 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Manchester United edged out Newcastle United with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. The game’s only goal came in the 24th minute when Patrick Dorgu found the net for the hosts, giving them a lead they held onto despite Newcastle’s pressure. Coming off a mixed run with a recent loss to Aston Villa and a high-scoring draw against Bournemouth, United looked determined to bounce back and secure the three points here.

The second half saw both sides make changes, with Manchester United bringing on J. Fletcher for Mason Mount at the break, followed by Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro around the hour mark to shore things up. Newcastle responded with a triple substitution in the 68th minute, introducing Joelinton, Harvey Barnes and Yoane Wissa, but they couldn’t break through. United’s recent form, including a win over Wolves and a draw with West Ham, showed their resilience, while Newcastle’s draw with Chelsea and loss to Sunderland highlighted their struggle for consistency in this tight encounter.

Newcastle dominated possession with two-thirds of the ball, which explains their 11 corners compared to United’s just two, suggesting they pushed hard for an equaliser but couldn’t convert that control into goals. Manchester United, on the other hand, made more of their dribbles with 54 successful ones against Newcastle’s 45, hinting at some effective counter-attacking play that helped them protect their slim lead.

Discipline-wise, United picked up two yellow cards while Newcastle had one, with no reds on either side to shift the momentum dramatically. Both teams used most of their substitutions – United with five, including late switches like Tyler Fredricson replacing Lisandro Martínez and Tyrell Malacia coming on for Luke Shaw in the 88th minute, while Newcastle made four, such as Joe Willock taking over from Sandro Tonali in the 77th – but no penalties or injury-time goals changed the story, and assists weren’t a big factor in this low-scoring affair.

The match’s defining moment arrived in the 24th minute when Patrick Dorgu scored for Manchester United, breaking the deadlock and setting the tone for a defensive battle. United made an early second-half change with J. Fletcher replacing Mason Mount right after the interval, and later brought on Joshua Zirkzee for Benjamin Sesko and Leny Yoro for Casemiro around the 60-minute mark to freshen things up.

Newcastle tried to turn the tide with a flurry of substitutions in the 68th minute, as Joelinton came on for Jacob Ramsey, Harvey Barnes replaced Jacob Murphy, and Yoane Wissa took over from Nick Woltemade, followed by Joe Willock swapping in for Sandro Tonali later on. Yellow cards added tension, with Luke Shaw booked for United in the 69th, Sandro Tonali for Newcastle in the 73rd, and Matheus Cunha cautioned deep into stoppage time, but United held firm to claim the win.

Manchester United lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which allowed them to stay compact and hit on the break, with Patrick Dorgu making a key impact in attack by grabbing the game’s only goal. Defensive partnerships held strong, even as changes like Leny Yoro coming on for Casemiro and late switches involving Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw helped maintain their shape. The setup suited their counter-attacking style, keeping things tight against Newcastle’s pressure.

Newcastle United set up in a 4-3-3, aiming to control the midfield and create chances through width, though they couldn’t find a way past United’s defence. Players like Sandro Tonali were involved until his substitution for Joe Willock, while the attacking line saw shifts with Harvey Barnes replacing Jacob Murphy and Yoane Wissa coming on for Nick Woltemade. This formation gave them plenty of possession but lacked the finishing touch on the day.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Patrick Dorgu, who stood out for Manchester United with his crucial goal in the 24th minute that proved to be the winner. He didn’t rack up assists or big chances created, but his one key pass showed his involvement in building play. Overall, his contribution was vital in a game where chances were at a premium, helping United secure the three points.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Newcastle United (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Aston Villa (A)
• Draw: 4-4 vs AFC Bournemouth (H)
• Win: 4-1 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs West Ham United (H)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Manchester United (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Chelsea (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Sunderland (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Burnley (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Manchester United have just secured a 1-0 win over Newcastle United, boosting their position to fifth in the league on 29 points after a run that includes a recent loss to Aston Villa but also a strong victory against Wolves. They’ll be looking to keep the momentum going in their next match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 30 December 2025 at 20:15, with Wolves currently languishing in 20th on just two points. A win here could solidify United’s push for European spots, especially after their mixed form with draws against Bournemouth and West Ham.

Newcastle United have just suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, leaving them in 11th place on 23 points following a patchy spell that saw a draw with Chelsea but also a loss to Sunderland. Their next fixture is against Burnley on 30 December 2025 at 19:30, with Burnley sitting 19th on 11 points. This could be a chance for Newcastle to get back on track and climb the table, building on positives like their win over Burnley earlier in the season and draws against Tottenham.

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